Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Measuring and improving quality using information systems
D W Bates1, E M Pappius, G J Kuperman
1Partners Information Systems, Boston, MA, USA. dwbates@bics.bwh.harvard.edu
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|June 29, 1999
Summary
Information systems (IS) are crucial for healthcare quality improvement. Integrating IS into routine care enables practical quality measurement and enhances patient care through decision support, leading to better outcomes and cost reduction.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Informatics
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Quality Improvement
Background:
- Information systems (IS) are vital for modern healthcare quality assessment and enhancement.
- Integrating IS into routine clinical workflows is essential for practical quality measurement.
- The increasing demand for high-quality, cost-effective care necessitates advanced IS solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the plan and experiences of an integrated delivery system in measuring and improving quality using IS.
- To highlight the dual role of IS in both measuring and actively improving patient care.
- To explore the potential of IS to support widespread adoption of quality improvement initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Implementing IS for nearly all quality measurement processes at a hospital.
- Utilizing IS for clinical decision support to improve care delivery.
- Integrating IS with routine patient care to ensure practicality and efficiency.
Main Results:
- IS effectively reduce unnecessary laboratory testing and improve reporting of critical abnormalities.
- IS aid in adverse drug event detection and prevention, and drug cost reduction.
- IS facilitate the availability of critical pathways to healthcare providers, enhancing care consistency.
Conclusions:
- IS are powerful tools for both measuring and improving healthcare quality.
- Effective IS integration into routine care is key to practical quality measurement and enhancement.
- Advanced IS are essential for achieving widespread, scalable improvements in healthcare quality and cost-efficiency, especially within managed care frameworks.
More Related Videos
05:33Introduction of an Integrated Pathology Image Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Reporting System
Published on: July 11, 2025
05:47Simulation of a Scaled Assembly Process with Collaboration of a Robotic Arm and Monitoring through a Vision System for Quality Control
Published on: August 29, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:27Nursing Clinical Information System
Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS)
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
01:05Quality Control
Quality control is one of the three cyclical quality assurance activities that help keep a system under statistical control. Typical quality control activities include creating quality control charts, conducting proficiency testing, and documenting and archiving results.
Quality control helps track data, visualize trends, and identify variations, making it easier to detect deviations that may affect the accuracy of an analysis. One way to do this is by generating a quality control chart, which...
Quality control helps track data, visualize trends, and identify variations, making it easier to detect deviations that may affect the accuracy of an analysis. One way to do this is by generating a quality control chart, which...
01:19Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is the overarching term used to describe the activities employed to ensure the proper performance of a system. These activities can be classified into three categories: quality control, quality assessment, and internal corrective measures. Typically, these activities work cyclically: quality control is performed before and during the analysis, while quality assessment occurs during and after the investigation. Internal corrective measures are implemented based on the findings...
01:10Control Systems
Control systems are everywhere in contemporary society, influencing diverse applications from aerospace to automated manufacturing. These systems can be found naturally within biological processes, such as blood sugar regulation and heart rate adjustment in response to stress, as well as in man-made systems like elevators and automated vehicles. A control system is essentially a network of subsystems and processes that collaboratively convert specific inputs into desired outputs.
At the heart...
At the heart...
01:15Introduction to Statistical Process Control
Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a method used to monitor and control quality within processes, particularly in manufacturing and service delivery, by employing statistical methods. SPC aims to distinguish between natural (common cause) variation and variation due to specific changes or events (special cause), allowing for timely improvements and sustained quality. The control chart, a pivotal tool in SPC, visually displays data over time alongside a central line of upper and lower control...